The son of outstanding young sire SHOWCASING is set to make his final start in the QIPCO British Champions Sprint Stakes at Ascot, bringing to an end a career in which he demonstrated he was among the best sprinters every season from the ages of two to five.

TASLEET broke his maiden by three lengths on only his second start, before winning the Listed Rose Bowl Stakes and competitive DBS Premier Yearling Stakes and finishing second to SHALAA in the Richmond Stakes during a busy juvenile season.

On his three-year-old debut TASLEET beat subsequent German Classic scorer KNIFE EDGE to win the Greenham Stakes, a race taken in recent years by champions FRANKEL, KINGMAN and MUHAARAR.

Last year at four TASLEET won the Duke of York Stakes by two and a half lengths from the classy MAGICAL MEMORY and went on to finish runner-up in three Group 1 sprints – beaten just a neck by THE TIN MAN in the Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot, finding only HARRY ANGEL too good in the Haydock Sprint Cup and filling second position behind LIBRISA BREEZE in a stellar British Champions Sprint Stakes where CARAVAGGIO, HARRY ANGEL and THE TIN MAN were further behind.

This year TASLEET has finished third in the Greenlands Stakes to MERCHANT NAVY, who won the Diamond Jubilee Stakes on his next outing.

TASLEET is among 29 stakes winners by SHOWCASING, a rising star of the European stallion ranks who has also been represented this year by the top sprinting two-year-olds ADVERTISE and SOLDIER'S CALL as well as Poule d'Essai des Poulains third DICE ROLL.

SHOWCASING is a son of the influential OASIS DREAM – also responsible for champion sprinter and Shadwell stallion MUHAARAR – and OASIS DREAM is in turn by the late doyen of Nunnery Stud, GREEN DESERT.

TASLEET is one of three winners out of his dam BIRD KEY, by the important broodmare sire CADEAUX GENEREUX, whose daughters have also produced champion sprinters DREAM AHEAD and HARRY ANGEL.

BIRD KEY is a half-sister to no fewer than nine winners, including Champagne Stakes victor and July Cup third ETLAALA, and also to the dam of the brilliantly fast Prix de l'Abbaye winner BATTAASH.

Trainer William Haggas said: “TASLEET is a thoroughly tough and genuine horse with a great temperament. He's a good looking horse – all quality. We're looking forward to his last run at Ascot.”

Regular jockey Jim Crowley commented: “On his day, TASLEET is one of the very best sprinters around. He won a quality renewal of the Duke of York Stakes, which has been won by some famous horses down the years, and he has been very unlucky not to win his Group 1 so far. For me, his standout attributes are his toughness and durability.”

Shadwell Stud Director Richard Lancaster said: “We are thrilled to be introducing TASLEET to breeders. He is a neat, good-looking horse with an active step and has shown tremendous consistency over four consecutive seasons, putting up performances that have entitled him to be considered among the best sprinters of recent years. We often hear British breeders say there is a shortage of attractively priced commercial stallions in this country, and TASLEET looks tailor-made to fill that gap.

"It promises to be an exciting year at Nunnery Stud in 2019. Not only will we launch the career of TASLEET, but the keenly anticipated first two-year-olds by MUHAARAR will make their racecourse debuts, while MUKHADRAM'S promising debut crop turns three and NAYEF continues to prove a fine source of smart winners at a value price.”

TASLEET will be available to view at Beech House Stud in Newmarket during the Tattersalls December Sales.

A fee for him and other Nunnery Stud stallions will be announced at a later date.